Want to learn how to sail. Advice needed.

scoey

I'm finishing college in a few weeks and as soon as that's out of the way, I'd like to learn how to sail. I'm quite serious about this, but the problem is, I'm not sure where to start. I have absolutely no sailing experience. I'm in Dublin but I'm willing to travel to carry out courses, in fact, it would probably be preferable.

I was reading about Yachtmaster courses, but the problem with them is, they're a bit expensive(by which I mean, way too expensive for me). There's a group in cork who do a course for around 16,000 I think, which starts in September and goes on for a good while. Then there was www.flyingfishonline.com who provide a similar course in Australia for about 18,000 euros. They also have an intensive 6 week course in the Isle of Wight for 8,000 or so.

I'm wondering if there's a way to work upto this sort of qualification without going on one of those courses(because I can't afford it). If so, could someone outline the process/ order in which I should carry out other courses.

I like the idea of working on yachts for a while, travelling and getting to see exotic locations relatively cheaply. What sort of qualification would I need to get a job on a yacht going long distance?

It's probably quite apparent from this post that I don't really have a clue where to start, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Croc

I would'ent recommend Yachtmaster unless you have practical knowledge of sailing first.

Yachtmaster is about Navigation, Weather, Rules of the Road etc and being able to show you can control a boat i would do a basic sailing course first get some experience and then perhaps try a competent crew course before moving on to Yachmaster.


There are a few other threads here on the same topic have a look at them it may help you to find a suitable course

Also have a look at Irish Sail Association web Site, they have plenty of info.

Silver Breeze

The simplest, least expensive and the very best way to get your feet wet as a beginner sailor is to do a week long course with Glenans Irish Sailing Club, celebrating 40 years of teaching sailing.

Try Collanmore Island for dinghies and windsurfing (best way to start and you will get wet) or Baltimore for larger keelboats.

www.gisc.ie

Pete67

Agree with the Glenans suggestion - have done several courses with them and found the whole setup is brilliant. Because it is a club the instructors are mostly volunteers so they are doing it for the love of it. You will have a great week and there is an active Glenans social life in Dublin also when you come back.

miss no stars

Alternatively try sutton dinghy club who run level 1 and 2 for adults. Do those. Then pimp yourself out as crew on bigger boats. You'll soon see after a few weeks on bigger boats if it's for you or not (it's not for everyone who thinks it will be!). Then look more seriously at the yachtmaster end of things.


Just as a FYI, I've been sailing 11 years and only just did my yachtmaster coastal theory course. Most people on the course had been sailing about that, if not a little more than that. Some had only been sailing about 3 years, but everyone had at least a couple of years experience. You get more out of it if you have experience and you're not going "uhhh what on earth is that...."

footballao

as far as i know there is a place just outside athlone that is doing sailing courses during the summer. They have basic courses there. Read it on a local paper. Its called Hodson Bay watersports center i think but dont quote me on that.Dont know how good it is or anything but might be worth a phone call.

PjC

+1 On glenans, the social side is just immense! You should really do sailing course's to start with, if you dont mind going away to do them have a look at the UKSA, Iv been over training with them a few times in intensive clinic type things. Their absolutety fantastic. All sailing courses and certified from the RYA anyway so doing here or there will give you the same thing.

As regards the yachtmaster, its very difficult. You would need to know how the sail and alot of the basics of weather before you started.

if your interested in the UKSA drop me a pm I'l prob be headin over again before the end of the summer

Tabnabs

PjC wrote: »

All sailing courses and certified from the RYA anyway so doing here or there will give you the same thing.

Just be careful about this. If you get an RYA qualification it will not be recognised by the ISA here, even though the syllabus is the same. So any subsequent qualifications you might want may not be so easily achieved. Any confusion, just ask the ISA.

PjC

Dyflin wrote: »

If you get an RYA qualification it will not be recognised by the ISA here

Oh thats true actaully, I should have said I did the ISA sailing courses in my local club. Back then I had been sailing for a year already on my own so went in a level 2, then did 4 the following year, and 5 after that.

All they do is teach you how to sail/race/read weather but once you complete level 5 you can do the instructors course and start teaching sailing on summer courses etc

TarfHead

Can anyone recommend a good book for learning/refreshing sail theory ?

I did a couple of dinghy sailing courses a few years ago, and have forgotten most of the theory learned then. The course instructor did recommend a good book that was available at my local library, but I have forgotten the name of that too and the library record doesn't go back that far.

PjC

Any of the rya books are very good if all you want to refresh the basics. If your lookin for racing tactics you cant go wrong with a book writen by any of the ex olympians